SAN DIEGO: HITTING: This was by far the worst lineup in the National League in runs (3.66 per game), HR (91), and OPS (.653). 1B JESUS GUZMAN had 44 RBI in just 247 at-bats thanks to a 1.094 OPS with RISP. 1B YONDER ALONSO, the key piece of the Mat Latos trade, will play first every day, moving Guzman to a back-up role. OF CAMERON MAYBIN used his speed to steal 40 bases and score 82 runs. OF CARLOS QUENTIN was acquired from the White Sox and will provide much-needed power in the middle of the batting order when he returns to the field sometime in late April/early May after having knee surgery. Slugger KYLE BLANKS will fill the void. In 420 career at-bats, he has 20 homers, but also has a .219 BA and 152 strikeouts. SS JASON BARTLETT had a disappointing first season in San Diego, hitting only two home runs in 554 at-bats and posting a pathetic .615 OPS as the team's No. 2 hitter in the lineup. Mediocre OF WILL VENABLE (.705 OPS) would not start for any other team in the majors. 3B CHASE HEADLEY batted .289 with a .374 OBP, but failed to provide any power from the three-hole. Oft-injured C NICK HUNDLEY had an .824 OPS and 9 HR in half a season. SS ORLANDO HUDSON batted just .246 with 92 strikeouts and just 31 walks. STARTING PITCHING: This young staff finished sixth in the majors with a 3.62 ERA. TIM STAUFFER struggled to pitch outside of spacious Petco Park, posting a 4.95 ERA and 1.39 WHIP on the road (2.57 ERA, 1.13 WHIP at home). Two starters both underwent surgery on their throwing shoulders last summer, but are expected to be ready for the start of the season. Lefty CLAYTON RICHARD had just 53 K and 38 BB in 99.2 innings, but he posted a strong 2.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP at home last year. The 2011 campaign was the year to judge whether EDINSON VOLQUEZ was all the way back from major arm surgery. Well, the jury's in and the verdict isn't kind. The move to San Diego can only cure so much. Right-hander DUSTIN MOSELEY enjoyed his first season in the NL, posting career-best marks in ERA (3.30) and WHIP (1.28). But like Richard, his 64 K and 36 BB in 120 innings were unimpressive. CORY LUEBKE began 2011 in the bullpen, but was moved the rotation, which is where he'll stay in 2012. In 17 starts last year, he shined with a 3.31 ERA and 111 K in 100.2 IP. RELIEF PITCHING: For the first time since 2008, somebody other than Heath Bell will close games for the Padres. HUSTON STREET will certainly benefit from the move to hitter haven Coors Field to pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Street had a 4.20 home ERA in three seasons in Colorado, while posting a stellar 2.59 ERA on the road. If Street gets hurt, the two leading candidates for the closer role are LUKE GREGERSON and ERNESTO FRIERI. Gregerson is the more consistent pitcher of the two, but Frieri throws harder than Gregerson and has a stellar 11.1 strikeout rate in his three-year career.

TAMPA BAY: HITTING: OF DESMOND JENNINGS' on-base skills will lead to tons of runs and SBs despite his mediocre batting average. 2B BEN ZOBRIST bounced back from a disappointing 2010, and will continue to produce near the top of the batting order. Though a series of nagging injuries plagued his 2011 season, 3B EVAN LONGORIA slugged 17 HR in his last 53 games. Fully healthy this season, he'll be an elite power-hitter with double-digit SB potential. OF B.J. UPTON's days in Tampa may be numbered. He's an elite athlete, but he just might lose his head if he's traded into a tough situation. After a hot start, OF MATT JOYCE settled in as the productive hitter he is. He should get to play every day in right field. SSs SEAN RODRIGUEZ and REID BRIGNAC will battle for ABs but neither hits on a consistent basis. C JOSE MOLINA was acquired for his defense much more than his hitting. DH LUKE SCOTT can also play some 1B when slugger CARLOS PENA, who is returning to Tampa after hitting 28 homers for the Cubs in 2011, needs a rest. STARTING PITCHING: DAVID PRICE was a little more hittable than in 2010, but he increased his already-high strikeout rate while cutting back on walks. His win total should rise from a disappointing 12 last year. JAMES SHIELDS put his 2010 disaster season behind him and became a Cy Young candidate. His peripheral stats and skills weren't all that different the past two years, it was a big swing of luck. Some people are putting out the Bust Alert on Rookie of the Year JEREMY HELLICKSON. He had the league's luckiest batting average on balls in play (.217), but he improved as last season progressed. MATT MOORE may be this year's R.O.Y. after a dominant late-season call up. He'll be among the league leaders in strikeouts for years to come. WADE DAVIS is a mediocre pitcher who eats innings at the back of the rotation. RELIEF PITCHING: KYLE FARNSWORTH looked as strong as he has in years, converting 25 of 31 saves in his first season with the Rays. He's the closer again this year, but it won't take much for him to lose that job after an unsteady last third of the 2011 season. JOEL PERALTA may overtake Farnsworth for ninth-inning duties at some point this season. Peralta was 5-for-5 on saves in September when Farnsworth was hurt, and gave up only one run in his final 21.3 innings. Possible future closer JAKE McGEE progressed nicely after a tough start to 2011. He's got potentially lethal stuff. Former Angels hurler FERNANDO RODNEY is looking to bounce back after a wild season (28 walks, 26 strikeouts in 32 IP).

The Tampa Bay Rays' homestand got off to a bad start, but they're starting to pick up steam.

The break-even point is within reach Saturday night when the Rays will face San Diego Padres right-hander Burch Smith in his major league debut.

After opening with 18 of their first 30 on the road, the Rays (17-18) were hoping to make the most out of this extended run at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay, though, lost two straight to Toronto to open the 10-game stretch, beginning with an 8-7 defeat Monday when it led by seven after three innings.

The Rays have bounced back nicely, winning two in a row over the Blue Jays and opening this three-game series with a 6-3 come-from-behind victory Friday. They scored four times in the seventh on two-run singles from Ryan Roberts and Ben Zobrist.

Tampa Bay, 11-6 at home, was last at .500 on April 7 when it was 3-3.

Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.79 ERA) will try to get the Rays back there. The right-hander, though, is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in his last three outings after a disappointing effort Monday when he lasted five innings after being staked to a 7-0 advantage. It was the first time Tampa Bay lost a lead of at least seven runs since an 11-10 loss to Cleveland on May 25, 2009.

"I just couldn't put away guys with two strikes," Hellickson, who walked four and yielded three runs, told the Rays' official website. "... It's pretty frustrating."

San Diego (16-19) has to feel that way after striking out a season-worst 18 times Friday. Alex Cobb struck out 13 Padres in 4 2-3 innings, including four in the second. The only other time a Ray struck out four in one inning was Hellickson on Aug. 25, 2011.

Smith will get his first start after getting called up from Double-A San Antonio to replace Clayton Richard, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an intestinal virus.

Saturday was actually Andrew Cashner's turn in the rotation as the Padres had an off day Thursday, but he'll start Tuesday in Baltimore with Eric Stults getting the ball in Sunday's series finale.

That opens the door for the 23-year-old Smith, a 14th-round pick in 2011 out of Oklahoma. He struck out 37 with six walks this spring and went 1-2 with a 1.15 ERA in six starts with San Antonio.

"He's got a big arm and a good, sound delivery," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official website. "He's thrown very well this season in Double-A. Our front office thinks very highly of this guy."

Smith might need to be at his best as he'll face a Rays team hitting .297 and averaging 6.5 runs over the last 12 games.

Corner infielders Evan Longoria and James Loney are batting a combined .414 (41 for 99) with 20 RBIs during that stretch.

Padres right fielder Will Venable has three of his team-best five homers in the last five games after going deep Friday.

Carlos Quentin also homered for San Diego after beginning the series on an 0-for-19 skid to open May. Quentin is batting .316 with six homers and 11 RBIs in his last 11 games at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay is trying to equal a season high with a fourth consecutive home win.